The first edition (1959) and the subsequent third edition (1977, co-authored with A. N. Winchell) set the standard. To this day, when a geologist looks for , they are looking for a specific voice of clarity.
One of the most valuable assets in Kerr’s book is the inclusion of determinative tables. Unlike dichotomous keys that force a strict path, Kerr often utilizes tabular data where minerals are grouped by optical properties (e.g., "Minerals with Low Relief" or "Minerals with High Birefringence"). Optical Mineralogy Paul F Kerr.pdf
Kerr’s writing has not been rendered obsolete by technology because optical mineralogy is, at its core, an observational science. No machine can replace the human eye scanning a thin section for that flash of anomalous blue (glaucophane) or the perfect 60-degree rhomb cleavage (calcite). Paul F. Kerr gave us the language to describe those observations. The first edition (1959) and the subsequent third
Searching for the keyword "" is a rite of passage for undergraduate geology students and a nostalgic hunt for practicing petrologists. But why does a book originally published in the mid-20th century remain so highly sought after in an era of digital databases and software-based mineral identification? To this day, when a geologist looks for
"Optical Mineralogy" by Paul F. Kerr is a foundational geological textbook, widely used for identifying minerals in thin sections via polarizing microscopes. The text, which reached a fourth edition in 1977, provides detailed techniques on optical crystallography, instrument usage, and systematic mineral descriptions. Access the text and related materials at Amazon.com Optical Mineralogy - Paul Francis Kerr - Amazon.com
If you have found a PDF of Kerr, you might wonder if it is outdated. Here is an honest comparison against modern standards like Nesse’s Introduction to Optical Mineralogy or Gribble & Hall’s Optical Mineralogy .